Water damage and excessive humidity can cause severe damage to the property, which includes mold, mildew, allergens, water stains, and a musky odor. It is therefore required to access the water/humidity damage under the guidelines of IICRC to be able to cater to it accordingly. We have previously seen how Dehumidifiers are an asset to even households and provide a number of benefits; today, we will be looking at how dehumidifiers and fans work together to eliminate moisture and treat water damage.
First, we will assess the role of both, dehumidifiers and fans; later we will see how they can collectively work to treat excessive humidity and water damage.
Determining the Water Damage:
The IICRC has provided its own approved guidelines to determine the type of water damage that can be assessed which helps in determining the class of water/moisture damage. It is based on the amount of moisture accumulated against the anticipated rate of evaporation which is dependent upon the type of wet material in the effected space.
- Class 1: In this class, there is the least amount of water absorption and evaporation. Only a part of the room or area is affected with either little or no wet carpet or moisture.
- Class 2: In this class, there is a large amount of moisture absorption and evaporation. Water has affected an entire room with carpet and padding. Water has also wicked up walls thinner than 24 inches and has perpetrated the structural material such as plywood, concrete, structural material, etc.
- Class 3: Greatest amount of water absorption and evaporation. The water has saturated ceiling walls, carpet, insulation, subflooring and cushions.
- Class 4: Special drying situation with wet material that has very little porosity or permeance such as plaster, hardwood, concrete, and stone.
The next step is to determine the drying goal in comparison to the drying standard of MC (moisture content) in a material. Next step is to determine the type of dehumidifier and fans needed to be used in effective combination as per the IICRC standards to eliminate the excessive moisture.
Role of Dehumidifiers:
Dehumidifiers can bring a lot of benefit to places that are either damp, suffer from excessive moisture or don’t have proper ventilation. Using a dehumidifier can significantly reduce the damage caused by moisture or water damage by eliminating it from the surrounding atmosphere. Several other benefits that one can avail because of having a dehumidifier include:
- The air quality is improved greatly in the household where a dehumidifier is used.
- It gets rid of mold or mildew that eats away at walls and furniture.
- It eliminates allergens that can cause allergies and skin conditions.
- They remove dust and dust mites from the air, making the air quality better.
The air is circulated via the unit which removes the moisture from the air and releases dehumidified back. Although it releases a little bit of heat into the room, it is not a nuisance by any means. It operates silently and collects the moisture in a bucket. Each dehumidifier has a specific capacity to remove humidity; according to IICRC, you may need a dehumidifier depending upon the size of space it is to be used in:
- For a space of 600-800 square foot – 75-99 PPD AHAM.
- A space of 800-1000 square foot – 57-99 PPD AHAM.
- A space of 1000-1200 square foot – 100+ PPD AHAM.
- And for spaces above 1200 square foot, more than one dehumidifier may be needed.
AHAM is a standardised testing scenario to determine the right dehumidifying equipment you need. According to AHAM, at a temperature of 80 degrees, the RH should be at 60%.
Role of Fans:
Although fans don’t have any direct effect on humidity when it comes to removing it but do they provide proper and lot of circulation. The type of fan that is paired with dehumidifiers is called ‘air mover’ as they are very effective when it comes to removing or eliminating moisture.
As air movers blow air at high speed, they force moisture out of walls, flooring, and carpets into the air. Thus, they create an excellent circulation of moisture-rich air that contains the excessive moisture stored in the area which is then extracted from the air by the dehumidifier. It is advised by IICRC to pair each dehumidifier with 3-4 air movers for effective dehumidification.
How to Set Dehumidifiers and Air Movers Properly?
After determining the amount of moisture in the area, it is advised to use 3-4 air movers with each dehumidifier. Make sure that none of the equipment faces each other. Keep the air movers faced towards wet/moist surfaces and let them blow out the moisture from the area. The moisture distributed in the air will then be handled by the dehumidifier.
This is where a proper and careful assessment of your requirements plays its part. Choosing a humidifier that over-performs may not be such an issue in comparison to a dehumidifier that underperforms. That is why you must carefully determine the possible amount of moisture (PPD) and select dehumidifier accordingly. You can use the formula sheet from above and choose the right humidifier based on its moisture removing capability.
In the end, the goal is to create proper evaporation which is affected by the following factors:
- Relative humidity in the air.
- Access to the surface of wet material.
- Air movement across wet material’s surface.
- A temperature of 90 degrees that ensures moisture is turned into vapor.
- Water vapor pressure difference between the wet material’s surface and the surrounding environment.
By carefully following the guidelines if IICRC and efficient utilisation of dehumidifiers and fans, you can eliminate stored up moisture from your household with relative ease.
Need Help With Fan Hire?
AGILE are the leaders in Fan Hire in Australia. Be sure to call us today for dehumidifier hire or fan hire, we would be happy to discuss the options available for you.
Sources:
https://aerindustries.com/blog/2016/09/27/best-placement-restoration-equipment/
https://aerindustries.com/blog/2016/03/27/dehumidifier-vs-fan/
https://www.cmmonline.com/articles/expediting-the-drying-cycle
https://agileequipment.com.au/what-size-dehumidifier-do-i-need/